1. Morning walks. Ringo is doing so much better, back to 2.5-3.5 miles in the morning with another shorter walk in the afternoon, no limp, (of course that meant I had to take him to the vet this week to stave off a full blown ear infection, because it’s always something…). We walked around the gravel pit ponds a few times this past week. We can walk from our house directly and because technically it’s private property, there aren’t as many people. We did get to meet some great dogs — one older boxer mix carrying a BIG stick, and two puppies with big feet who were so soft, so sweet, so goofy — and Ringo was good with all of them. We also saw lots of seagulls, ducks, and a heron.

2. Practice. Writing, meditation, and even some yoga — I haven’t practiced asana that much since I stopped teaching, a mix of losing my reason to practice (if I wasn’t teaching) and grief (not teaching because of COVID, not practicing with other people). I’d like to practice more, long for it, know how good it feels, but starting (or restarting in this case) a habit takes time, and I’m already working on so much shifting and staying. So I guess my current yoga practice is to “give myself a break.”

3. Making art, in particular with Calyx and Janice. Making art for me isn’t about the product or the outcome but rather the process, a combination of practice and play.

4. Support. The first part of last week was rough. I was busy and worried, anxious, but I also had so much help! Eric, Ringo, good friends, my masseuse, my therapist, books, podcasts, TV, practice, the hydromassage chair, the pool, the sauna, good food.

5. My tiny family, my tiny house, my tiny life. I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Bonus joy: dinner with Jon & Chelsey, a sunny weekend, clean laundry, other people’s babies and dogs, texting with my mom and brother, fresh clean air, napping, that corner of the couch, strawberries, raspberries, tacos, comfortable shoes, down and wool, getting refunds for both our state and federal taxes, gummy supplements, smoothies, being able to hug my friends, clean water, leftovers, pajamas, reading in bed while Eric and Ringo sleep.

1. The central Oregon coast. I lived the first half of my life in Oregon, in the Willamette Valley. I spent time on the coast regularly from the time I was a baby. It is, so far, my favorite place on the planet, in particular the central part — Cape Perpetua, Yachats, Waldport, Driftwood Beach, Seal Rock, Ona Beach, Newport, Depoe Bay, and Lincoln City. When Obi, our first dog, was only 4.5 months old, Eric and I made our first trip from Colorado to Oregon to spend an extended amount of time in Waldport, and have tried to make it back every other year since then, always taking our dogs. Because of lingering COVID concerns and the fact we were just there last year, we held off on making definite plans for this summer. Yesterday we finally took a look at the rentals that were left and made a decision — for six days in early June, we’ll be staying in the same house we reserved and had to cancel in 2020. I’m so grateful we have the means, that we get to go back to somewhere we love so much, and that because it’s so close to our families, it makes visiting them that much easier. 

2. All the people who are trying to do better. And not just do better, but take time for rest and joy as well. All those big open slightly broken hearts committed to easing suffering in the world, to loving and caring for it the best they can.

3. Moving my body, resting my body. The particular balance that works to keep it happy and healthy is constantly shifting, but what a wonderful problem to have.

4. Good content. TV shows, videos, movies, music, podcasts, books. I will never get to all of it, but, again, what a wonderful problem to have.

5. My tiny family, tiny house, tiny life. Eric was on spring break this week, which might explain why I have so few pictures to share. I spent my time enjoying Eric and Ringo and totally forgot to document any of it. Not a single new picture of Ringo! I’ll include the one of him seeing the ocean for the first time — he took his first trip with us when he was six months old.

Bonus joy: sitting with Eric and Ringo in the sun in our backyard, aqua aerobics, the hydromassage chair, the sauna, small group training with Shelby, dinner with friends, making art with Calyx, texting with Mom and Chris, cooking good food, trying new recipes, gummy supplements, banana bread, a crisp gala apple, a warm shower, down and wool, making each other laugh, clean sheets, Wild Writing, seeing the first robin of spring, vaccines and masks, reading in bed while Eric and Ringo sleep.